Using and Identifying Nikon Rangefinders

In practical terms, these four different models amount to minor variations
of the the same camera. The Nikon One and the M's are far too expensive to use.
Serial #'s 6091 to 6094000. The Nikon S is comparatively common, and not
very popular. As a result, the S is the lowest priced way to get into the
Nikon Rangefinders. All share the heavy duty construction of tanks in terms of
their body casting and body covers -- they have the thickest most difficult to bend or
scratch chrome covers of any Nikon Rangefinder.

From a user standpoint, these cameras are slower working
with knob wind and rewind. They are relatively heavy, noticeably
heavier than the cameras which followed. Their combined Rangefinder /
Viewfinders are small compared to the later Nikons or the Leica M, yet large and bright
compared to their main competition -- the screw mount Leicas. The
combined Rangefinder and Viewfinder window is nice (50 mm view only).
Strangely enough, their RF image is probably the brightest of all the Nikon
Rangefinders. While flash synced, the S uses an obsolete a prong type sync cord
which is very difficult to find today. Nikon S serial numbers range from
6094001 to 6129600.All four
early Nikon cameras share the same layoutand can easily be
mistaken for each other at a quick glance. See separate profiles:
Unsynced M,Synced M , S.

The Nikon S2 was introduced in 1955, a great advance over the S.
It showed Nikon's innovative design. See Separate Profile Much lighter than the S, its features
included:

A much larger Rangefinder/Viewfinder
for the 50mm field of view. In fact, it has the largest 50mm finder of any Nikon
RF, but it is not parallax corrected. If you are going to shoot with only the 50,
this makes an excellent choice. This is a 1:1 finder which is a big plus,
allowing easy use with both eyes open, without eye strain. The S2 RF image is
generally brighter and less flare than the later S3 and S4 finders. Many shooters
find the S2 their favorite NRF camera for 50 lenses.

Faster and easier Lever advance and rewind,
compared to the S's knobs.

Standard PC sync terminal

Single latch back removal, instead
of the twin latches on the S

A much smaller and lighter body

All of these features add up to make the S2
a very convenient user camera today. Some consider it the best user. It is also the
most numerous Nikon Rangefinder and sells for less than half the price of the SP, all
other conditions being the same. The later S2's have a black shutter speed dial and a
black focusing scale. These later cameras are known as "Black Dial S2" and
command a premium over the more common "Chrome Dial S2." A limited number of
S2's were made in Black, and these command high prices from collectors. Serial #
613500 to 6197000

The Nikon SP

Legendary is the word for this camera. For its time, the SP was far
more advanced than anything else available. Many consider the Nikon SP the
QUINTESSENTIAL Photojournalist's camera. For the first time, Nikon had not
only caught up, but had passed Leica. It's the overall best
Nikon Rangefinder choice as a
user as far as I am concerned, especially if you have the lenses to make use of its six
frameline finder system. Serial # 6200000 to 6232200. SP's are my favorite
cameras and I buy all I can. See Separate Profile

Shown here are three Black SP's with the new Cosina Voigtlander 21/4, 25/4, and 35/2.5 lenses, the Voigtlander double accessory
shoe mounting a Voigtlander VC silicon LED meter. Two of the SP's mount motor drives
and the Jacobson cordless battery pack.

NEW Nikon Black SP 2005!To most dedicated Nikon collectors, there is no Nikon quite as
desirable as the black Nikon SP. On January 14th 2005 Nikon announced a
new limited production run of 2500 SP's mounting the 35/1.8 Nikkor. This
is a dream come true to many long time Nikon collectors. $8000 INFO

The Nikon S3, S3M and S4

Nikon S3/S4'swere
actually built on the SP chassis as an inexpensive alternative to the SP. The S3 has a
large 1:1 Rangefinder/Viewfinder with three non parallax corrected lines always
visible--the 35, the 50, and the 105. The S4 has the same finder, but is lacking the S3's
self timer and motor drive connection. The years have not usually been kind to the S3/4
finders, and they usually show a lot of flare, often with a noticeably less contrasty
rangefinder than any of the other NRF cameras. If you wear glasses, the outside 35
frame is hard to see. Personally I find all the other Nikon Rangefinders
preferable to these. Some S3's were made in black and are now a rare collectible. High S4
prices reflect its rarity and value to collectors--not users. It was never officially
imported to the US. S3 Serial #'s 6300000 to 6314500. S4 Serial #'s 6500000 to
6505900. See Separate
Profile

Nikon S3 2000: Nikon amazed
Nikon collectors in the year 2000 by introducing the chrome Nikon S3 2000
selling for an average of $4500, a near duplicate of the classic S3 first
introduced in 1958. Some collectors hoped for a new SP, but the
complicated SP finder would have made the camera too expensive. Also
introduced was a new formula black 50/1.4. Unfortunately, no other
Nikon made lenses or accessories followed. The story that I was told
is that Nikon originally intended to make only 2000 of the new
S3's. Nikon is said to have cut off orders at 8000, though it is
unclear if all were delivered. In 2002 Nikon introduced a new
version, a black paint Nikon S3 2000,
limited to 2000 units. Personally I think the black S3 was just
what Nikon collectors were waiting for. I predict a relatively quick
sell out.

Nikon S3M
this is a special low production collectible. It looks very much like a regular S3. Serial
# 6600000 to 6600225. Half frame means that its film format was half the normal 35mm frame
size. Thus it could give 72 exposures on a 36 roll of film. At a blazing 9fps per
second, the motorized S3M was also the first high speed Nikon. Lets talk. See Separate Profile

Voigtlander Bessa R2S: At
Photokina 2002 Cosina introduced the Nikon Rangefinder mount
Voigtlander R2S, the ONLY NRF
mount camera made so far with TTL metering, along with a new series of lenses:12/5.6, 15/4.5, 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 35/2.5, 50/3.5, 50/2.5, 50/1.5, 85/3.5.
After a lapse of only 4 decades, the venerable Nikon Rangefinder mount returns
to the marketplace, complete with multi-coated lenses !

In Super Wides, the Nikon 21 and 25/4 are
prohibitively expensive as users from an economic point of view. Yet you can use the
superb 21/4 Zeiss Biogon made for the Contax with beautiful results, at a fraction
of the cost. This shows a 21 Biogon mounted on an SP.

In 28's, you have a few choices. The
black 28 Nikkor is much lighter than the chrome version, and therefore a better
user. For 1/3 to 1/4 the price of the 28 Nikkors, you might be able to find a
28/6 Russian Orion lens for the Kiev. Even though made for the Contax RF mount,
it should work fine. The new Voigtlander 28/3.5 is the sharpest of the
lot.

In 35's, you have three to choose from: 35/3.5,
35/2.5, 35/1.8. The 3.5 and 2.5 were made in chrome or black, the 1.8 in black only. ALL
are fine lenses. I prefer the black lenses since they are lighter to carry . The 2.5 is
probably the sharpest, but the 1.8 is a fine performing fast 35. You could also use a
Contax 35mm, such as the 35/2.8 Biogon or the Russian copy for the Kiev. I suggest you
keep with the coated post war versions. The new Voigtlander 35/2.5 is the
sharpest, benefiting from decades of optical improvements.

In 50's, you can choose the 50/2
(black or chrome), the 50/1.4 (black or chrome), and the 50/1.1.
The best user is the small compact black 50/1.4. The black 50/2 is also a nice lens. The
chrome models are just as good, if the added weight is not a problem. The 50/1.1 is
strictly a collector's lens. It is expensive and has relatively poor performance wide
open.

In 85's, there is the chrome or black 85/2's, and the black 85/1.5. The
chrome 85/2 is relatively common and inexpensive. A fine performer, it is the best choice
from a dollar to performance standpoint, although a bit heavy. The 85/2 Black lens is rare
and hard to find, but compact and lightweight. It is the best choice as a user 85. The
85/1.5 is heavy and expensive and should be considered a collector's lens.

In 105's, in practical terms you can choose the
105/2.5 or the 105/2.5, or the 105/2.5, black or black versions. The 105/4 is so difficult to find it's practically not there. The
105/2.5 is a great performer, and replaced the 85/2 as the most popular Nikon RF
portrait lens.

In 135's, you can choose between chrome or black
135/3.5's. The chrome is so much heavier than the black, it makes the black a very easy
best choice as a user.

The 180/250/350/500/1000 all require Nikon's
reflex housing to essentially turn the SP into an awkward SLR. All are collector's lenses,
and too clumsy and expensive to be considered users.

Best Modern User Lenses

The new Cosina Voigtlander
lens lineup of 12/5.6, 15/4.5, 21/4, 25/4, 28/3.5, 35/2.5, 50/2.5, 50/1.5,
and 85/3.5 merit strong consideration. All are
sharp, modern multi-coated optics, all are generally sharper than Nikon's
classic lens offerings from a half a century ago. The new 50/1.4 Nikkor is also a
great lens, but unfortunately it was sold only with the S3 2000 camera body.
Ditto for the new version 35/1.8 Nikkor sold only with the Nikon SP 2005.

From a user's standpoint, lens caps are sometimes hard to
find. The plastic rear caps which replaced the metal rear
caps have a tendency to shear off. Alternatives are metal Contax RF caps, Russian Kiev
rear caps, or Contarex rear caps if you can find them.

Nikon's front snap on caps eventually break. Use non
Nikon caps if possible, since this also prevents the originals from getting lost on a
shoot.

Nikon camera cases eventually break where the front flap
attached to the bottom case. Fix them at your local shoe repair.

I like the 28/3.5, 35/2.5, 50/1.4,135/3.5 combination
because they use the same 43mm size. . Nikon filters are hard
to find, but used Waltz filters are also around. New BW filters can also be ordered. The
85/2 uses a 48 filter. The 105 uses Nikon's standard 52mm mount which makes it easy to
install a cap and shade from Nikon's later 105/2.5 SLR lenses.

The best shade for the 50/1.4 is not the Nikon shade, but rather the larger vented Japanese Waltz shade made specifically for
the 50/1.4. .

Meter: Some people like the
SP's original clip on selenium meter, but it's usually inaccurate by now, and difficult to
repair. A far better user choice is the silicon Cosina Voigtlander VC meter with LED
readout. Use the double accessory shoe to mount the meter at the same time as an
accessory finder.

Even today, it's not difficult to have Nikon Rangefinders
repaired, because they are MECHANICAL cameras-- just find an expert experienced repairman. They are simple cameras
to work on--but don't try it yourself or you will probably be sorry. It really
does take an expert! The funny thing is that 50 years from now, craftsmen will
still be able to repair mechanical cameras, while our modern super doper electronic
cameras will be useless and unrepairable -- without their unobtainable discontinued
special electronic innards!!!

Nikon Rangefinder
Repairs

Nikon Rangefinders: CLA general cleaning, lubrication and adjustment of shutter,
rangefinder $195. CLA with shutter overhaul and replace shutter
curtains with F Titanium curtains on the S3, S4, SP $375.
SP Motor repairs: Minimum fee $500 if fixable, $200 fee even if unfixable --
they are a you know what to work on and they eat up hours of the best
repairmen. Most common lenses cleaned $75 Exotic lens repairs
quoted after we see the problem. We repair the 50/1.1.

Nikon SP Selenium Meter
Repairs:Almost
everyone will tell you these can't be repaired, so we have just started
repairing them. We can repair most, but not all SP meters, it depends upon
what is needed. $125 (within the US)
for the meter, another $100 if you also want the booster done. We replace
the selenium meter cells and adjust the mechanism for accuracy.

Nikon Rangefinders should be shipped insured. I am
not responsible for loss or or damage in shipment, you will have to deal with
the insurer. All repair prices plus insured return shipping. I will
take no responsibility for damaged or lost international repaired cameras and
accessories.

The Romance of Photojournalism?

Nikon Rangefinders are relics of
an age of Giants: Eugene Smith, Capa, and Swartz to name a few. With its unique six
position finder and electric motor drive, many consider the Nikon SP thequintessential
1950's Photojournalist's camera.

So, if you are out there shooting
with your SP and feel the presence of Gene Smith, tell him I said "Hi."